Dunedin streaker who disrupted All Black game hopes to dodge conviction

Warren Fitzgerald being carried off the field in Christchurch last month. Photo / Brett Phibbs

A Dunedin man who streaked at an All Black game and "mounted a goal post" is hoping to dodge a conviction for his nude dash.

Warren Blair Fitzgerald, 30, appeared in the Dunedin District Court this morning on a charge of going on to the playing surface at a major sporting event - when the ABs played the Springboks at AMI Stadium in Christchurch on September 17.

However, today the court heard the game was not classified as "a major sporting event".

"I find that hard to understand," police prosecutor Tim Hamilton said.

The charge was amended to one of disorderly behaviour and Fitzgerald pleaded guilty through his lawyer Marie Taylor-Cyphers.

After 76 minutes of the rugby test, Fitzgerald, who was sitting in the west stand, stripped off and leaped over the barrier.

He made it past stewards on to the playing surface, through the in-goal area and "attempted to mount the goal post", the court heard.

Fitzgerald's naked jaunt only came to an end when he was tackled by security guards.

The referee was forced to stop the game for a minute, Mr Hamilton said.

When spoken to by police, Fitzgerald said the streak was "just for laughs".

He was less candid outside court today when he told the ODT he "probably shouldn't" comment.

Ms Taylor-Cyphers asked Judge Dominic Flatley not to enter a conviction against her client's name.

A discharge without conviction hearing will be heard next month.

The court heard Fitzgerald had a clean criminal record but had previously received diversion over an assault.

According to the University of Otago website, the defendant is an assistant research fellow at the Centre for Sustainability.